How Much is Plasma Worth?

To the recipient, there is no price tag on plasma. It’s essential to saving so many lives!

For the donors, however, donating plasma can be an excellent source of side income.

Every facility has a different fee structure, however, most places offer somewhere between $20 and $50 per donation (depending on how much you donate). Some donation centers even have referral bonuses as an incentive to recruit more donors.

Keep in mind that, even by donating as often as possible (usually 2-3x a week), you won’t be able to make a full-time income from donating plasma.

Plasma Donation Requirements: How Can You Qualify To Sell Plasma?

You must meet specific qualifications to sell plasma. Each company has its own set of plasma donation requirements, but they are quite similar.

Plasma donations are different than whole blood donations. You can donate plasma more frequently if you qualify.

Age Requirements

To donate plasma for money, you must be at least 18 years old and be in good health. Most collection centers allow people in their late 60s to donate. Upper age limits do vary by plasma collection company.

Items to Bring

To sell your plasma, you must bring:

Valid identification (driver’s license, passport, military I.D., or school I.D.)

Proof of address (driver’s license, a copy of the current lease, W-2 or pay stub, utility bill)

Body Type Requirements

You can’t sell plasma if you are ill, and you need to be able to do normal, everyday activities. You must weigh at least 110 pounds and have a healthy vein in your arm for the blood draw.

If you have received any piercings, tattoos, or permanent makeup in the last year, you are most likely not eligible to donate or sell your plasma.

A pre-donation physical is required, including checks on your protein and hemoglobin levels.

If this is your first time, or it has been a while, expect a trained medical specialist to test your blood.

They’ll look for viruses such as HIV and hepatitis. They’ll also perform a medical history evaluation.

Any Surgical Operations Recently?

If you’ve had any recent surgery, you may not be able to sell your plasma. It will all depend on the type and date of the surgery. They’ll also require that you’ve been released from your doctor’s care.

How Should You Prepare Your Diet?

It’s important you are very well hydrated before and after any plasma donation. The minimum recommended amount is eight cups of water the day prior and the day you donate.

It is important that you avoid alcohol the day before you donate and for at least four hours after donating.

You should also avoid fatty foods that might cloud your plasma. Focus on protein and iron-rich foods if you plan to be a frequent donor.

Eating meat, fish, dairy, eggs, beans, and seeds will give you the protein you need.

Many of those same foods will boost iron levels too.

You can also add iron-enriched breakfast cereals. Fruits like raisins and watermelon will give more iron to your diet.

Daily Protein Intake

You may be turned away without donating if you have inadequate plasma protein levels.

Testing will occur each time you plan to donate. Eat a protein-rich meal no more than 3 hours before your donation appointment.

If you are going to be a frequent donor, it’s essential to keep your protein levels up to maintain good health.

Make sure you include the foods listed above in your diet and stay hydrated.

This won’t only make you a better candidate for donating plasma for money. It will give you more energy and help you recover from the donation.

What to do the Night Before Selling Plasma

Skipping the burger, fries, and beer is definitely the first step. Beyond that, you’ll want to do a few other key things to have your best chance at selling plasma.

Get A Restful Night’s Sleep

You should try to sleep 7-9 hours every night. It is especially important when you plan to donate plasma.

It is generally a safe process, but fatigue can be a side effect.

It’s better to be proactive and make sure you are well-rested before your plasma donation time.

Drink Extra Water Before the Appointment

Another side effect of donating plasma is dehydration. To avoid this, you should ensure you drink plenty of water the day before and the day of your appointment.

Adequate hydration will help ensure your veins are in good condition for donation.

Drink extra water before your appointment. After that, supplement with more water throughout the day.

This is especially important in the summer, or if you are physically active on the day of your donation.

Eat a Well-Balanced Meal First

Don’t ever head to your plasma donation without eating a well-balanced meal. If you do, you may fail the prescreening test.

It is necessary to understand the importance of nutritional requirements. Those who understand this will pass the screening test with each donation.

Is It Painful to Donate Plasma?

Needle injection will cause some pain, so donating plasma is not really pain-free.

The needle remains in place for the duration of the donation which can be between 40 and 100 minutes.

Some donors describe plasma donation as slightly more painful than giving whole blood. Others agree that there is not much difference when donating plasma for money.

You may expect slight bruising or tenderness at the injection site. There is always a small chance of infection.

Side Effects of Donating Plasma

The main side effects of plasma donation include:

pain associated with the actual blood draw

a small and inevitable chance of infection

the possibility of dehydration and fatigue.

There are other adverse effects of which you should be aware, although these are rare.

Allergic Reactions

During plasma donation, the liquid part of your blood is removed. Other blood components return to you in a sterile saline solution.

There is a chance of allergic reaction to substances used in the donation process. One such substance is citrate.

Trained medical staff are ready to treat allergic reactions.

You should discuss any concerns during the pre-screening process before donating your plasma.

Citrate Reactions

Citrate is necessary as it prevents your blood from clotting, but it will cause a reaction in some people.

Individual responses range from tingling in extremities to a temporary loss of sensation.

Severe allergic reaction symptoms include changes in pulse, shortness of breath, and seizures. Treatment is critical to prevent shock or possible death.

Discuss concerns about citrate with the on-site staff before donating your plasma.

How to Find a Plasma Donation Center

Most of us get mail from plasma donation centers. We’ve also all driven past billboards advertising how to sell plasma at local sites.

Aren’t sure where to find a place to sell your plasma for money? A simple online search for “plasma donation centers near me” will probably do the trick.

There are hundreds of centers nationwide with more opening up every year.

Keep in mind, some of these donation centers may go by a different name in your state. It’s worth checking out the website to see if there is a location near you.

Plasma Donation Centers Near Me

Octapharma Plasma

You can donate plasma for money (near me) with Octapharma Plasma’s 80+ donation across 26 states. Their website includes information about plasma donation. Here you can also learn how the plasma is used to make life-saving medications.

They include a section on patient and donor stories, along with health and nutrition tips. You’ll also find information for first-time donors and a plasma donation “FAQ” page.

You will receive a prepaid debit card upon successful donation, as outlined on the payments and rewards page. First-time donors can earn hundreds of dollars after a series of donations. The compensation varies by location.

Throughout the year donors can earn frequency incentives, prizes, and bonuses.

Octapharma Plasma stresses “making money by making a difference” and how you can “save up for the things you want while saving lives.”

Donors are their most important customers. This makes you their number one priority. Not only that, but they regularly meet or exceed industry and safety standards.

DonatingPlasma

DonatingPlasma is an educational website sponsored by the Plasma Proteins Therapeutic Association.

The site provides donors education on the biology of blood, the steps in plasma donation. You will also learn how plasma is used to treat life-threatening conditions.

You can search for more than 600 licensed and certified collection centers in the United States and Europe.

The DonatingPlasma website has a global focus. They’ve dedicated a full page to International Plasma Awareness Week, occurring annually in early October.

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